Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

A bill filed by Reggie Brown in the Jacksonville City Council this week would institute a 90-day moratorium on “block party” gatherings. The legislation (2017-196) posits “a legitimate public purpose in imposing a temporary moratorium on permitting recreational street closings … ‘block parties’ within the City, to allow the City time to create appropriate local regulations and […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 15, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilmen Bill Gulliford and Reggie Brown convened Wednesday to revisit an issue from months back: “community events” in the council districts. Bill 2016-489 allocated $70,000 to be split up among the 19 council members, for the purposes of staging educational community events in districts. For Brown, this issue is critical — his constituents often have questions about city […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday morning, a Jacksonville City Council committee mulled the impact of auto repair shops, internet cafes, nightclubs, and liquor stores in certain neighborhoods. Such questionable businesses exacerbate the city’s pervasive blight issues, legislators agree. The fix, it turns out, may be in zoning. But there is no clear consensus on what that fix may […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2017

Monday morning saw the first of three Jacksonville City Council committees approve the latest attempt to expand the Human Rights Ordinance. The vote was 4-2. The measure would extend protections in housing, public accommodations, and employment on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. As well, the bill offered in its original form […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 3, 2017

Tuesday morning saw the Jacksonville City Council Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services committee greenlight a bill that frustrated it in December. The bill would increase city-imposed ticket surcharges for the Veterans Memorial Arena, the Baseball Grounds of Jax, and the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, while adding surcharges for events at the under construction amphitheater and […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 13, 2016

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Jacksonville City Council was more notable for being the last one of 2016 than it was for any particular legislative achievement. Among the highlights: $70,000 was appropriated for “neighborhood events” for Jacksonville City Council members. And $415,000 appropriated for the installation of temporary seats for the TaxSlayer Bowl. “This is […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 9, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown is still looking into a measure to review the nature of city consolidation, but action won’t happen anytime soon. Brown told us Thursday that he spoke with the city’s Office of General Counsel this week. “What we’re finding out is that we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2016

Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown has a community meeting scheduled for Thursday evening at the Legends Center on Soutel Drive. The meeting kicks off at 6:00 p.m. at the Northwest Jacksonville landmark. Councilman Brown has made news on a number of occasions in the last few weeks. Brown called into question the nature of consolidation in […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2016

A bill designed to give Jacksonville City Council members access to a pot of $70,000 for neighborhood events cleared its final committee Wednesday. The measure cleared Neighborhoods, Community Investments, and Services on Monday with no opposition. And on Tuesday, the Rules Committee approved it 5 to 1. A number of amendments, intended to sharpen distinctions […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 6, 2016

The city of Jacksonville spends over $200,000 a year for association memberships, such as the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, National Association of Counties and U.S. Conference of Mayors. But some council members contend that the money isn’t being optimally spent, because restricted travel budgets don’t allow Jacksonville to represent its own […]

Tag: Reggie Brown
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Jacksonville mulls ‘block party’ moratorium

Jacksonville City Council ‘community events’ policy up for review

Jacksonville council panel weighs blight impacts of sketchy businesses

Amended HRO expansion bill clears first Jacksonville City Council committee

Ticket surcharge hike, school board governance bills clear Jacksonville council panel

Jacksonville City Council wraps up 2016

Movement to repeal Jacksonville consolidation will slow, says Reggie Brown

Reggie Brown slates community meeting for Thursday evening

Neighborhood events bill clears final Jacksonville council panel

Jacksonville council members hammer out travel budget details